Archive for April 2012
"The Beginner's Goodbye"
In case you’re interested, my review of Anne Tyler’s new novel, “The Beginner’s Goodbye” is up other at Truthdig.com. You can click here to read it. I just got back from Ottawa, where I was at the “Politics & the Pen” gala dinner, which raises money for the Writers Trust of Canada, and then over…
Read MoreMusic Of The Spheres (cerebrally speaking)
Students often ask me how I manage to get to the page. They want to know if I light candles, do yoga, drink coffee, read poetry . . . I answer yes to pretty much everything, although I do none of those things consistently. (And besides, I’m not sure any such advice is helpful to…
Read MoreThe Dirty Dozen
I was asked by OPEN BOOK TORONTO to share 12 unexpected things about myself. Here are the first three: I cook a really mean lamb tagine (and will share the recipe if you want it.) I have a secret crush on Vin Diesel. I also have a secret crush on Jeremy Irons. I think there’s…
Read MoreThe Shadow In The Mirror
I recently wrote an essay for “The 49th Shelf” about what happens when we think in terms of “us versus them,” a subject close to my heart, since it’s the theme of my recent novel, OUR DAILY BREAD. Here’s the beginning of it: At a dinner party recently, someone brought up the topic of Israel…
Read MoreEndings . . .
“Open Book Toronto” asked me, and a few other writer types, to talk about how to write endings. After pondering the question. . . . well, click here to find out what I said. Hint: It’s good to have one!
Read MoreAt The Mercy Of Our Perceptions . . .
Well, OUR DAILY BREAD is out in Canada now, and I’m delighted with the Canadian edition. Beautiful new cover, deckle edges, French flaps. I think Harper Collins has done a terrific job, and so far the response from readers has been good. Which means, of course, I have to start thinking about what I’m going…
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